Sulcata Tortoises As Pets: The Cold, Hard Truth.

#sulcata #gianttortoise #gardenstatetortoise
Keeping giant tortoises is no easy task. They’re heavy, deliberate, smart and capable of being destructive. When it comes to the sulcata tortoise, they can dig burrows 100 feet deep and they can do it FAST. Let’s get inside one of these massive, underground tunnels in our own backyard and check up on the other giant tortoise species of Garden State Tortoise.
Want to support Garden State Tortoise? Become a patron today by joining our PATREON: / gardenstatetortoise
Subscribe to our channel: / gardenstatetortoise
Follow us on Instagram: / garden_state_tortoise
Follow us on TikTok: / gardenstatetortoise
Follow us on Facebook: / gardenstatetortoise
Visit our website: www.gardenstatetortoise.com
Follow our Diamondback terrapin conservation work on Instagram: / terrapinconservationin...
Who is Garden State Tortoise?
However you made it here, thank you and welcome to Garden State Tortoise. Garden State Tortoise is home to hundreds of animals from all around the world. We are a family dedicated to adventure, conservation of wildlife, and all things nature. We are a reptile rescue and breeding facility for more than ten years, offering refuge to those who need it, and working everyday to protect the beautiful world of reptiles in any way we can. Here on our KZbin channel you will be able to join us on our animal adventures while learning how to care for, protect, properly identify, feed and even breed many species of turtle, tortoise, snake and lizard. We even work with frogs and salamanders! We hope you enjoy our videos and help us share them with the world so we can continue to educate people of all ages about herpetology.
Chris and Casey Leone

[@Mist3rChing]

I love the part when the red foot tortoise was peeking to see what was going on and then you started talking about ‘tortoises having personalities. Once my Greek tortoise hears that Im prepping food for my Beardie, he’ll be sprinting around his enclosure like an Olympian to signify to me that he’s hungry too

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣🤣

[@zisa5294]

Mei wone too😂

[@chezmoi42]

I'm just so taken by Dixie's happy smile. She must be so pleased with her design for a summer getaway.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I think she definitely is 🤣

[@danielbrown1724]

She’s like “get out of my air conditioning please” This little big gal is just beautiful. Love my Sunday morning GST vids. Keep ‘em coming all Cheers 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🐢🐢🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Haha yep! Thank you!

[@laurencarleton236]

Well, there's nothing better than a quiet Sunday morning with my coffee watching another awesome video from GST. I just love seeing all the beauties and how happy and healthy they are. Stay cool my friends! 🥰

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you Lauren 😊

[@loriw2661]

They are all exquisite and so obviously well taken care of and loved. The depth of that burrow is really amazing and to learn that they can be a hundred feet long is mind blowing. These animals aren’t dumb! 🐢❤️🐢 I’m so grateful for your videos. I’ve learned so much about turtles🐢

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you Lori!

[@chanterelle483]

When you dig up an awesome burrow but your food delivery guy takes it for himself: Edit: Sorry but I had to laugh when the giant tortoise rammed into you like a tank 😂

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣🤣🤣🐢👍🏻

[@jens1856]

Glad you are reliable to take them in n care for them. Can tell they're happy n healthy another great video content. They're so cute coming up to you to eat. Great job 👍 👍 😊😊❤❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@jens1856]

@@GardenStateTortoise You're Welcome

[@cara9648]

Turtles have such awesome personalities. I fall in love all over again 😆

[@GardenStateTortoise]

❤️🐢

[@348Tobico]

Chris, you are living out the dream of every kid who ever loved a turtle or tortoise! And you do it to world class specs. Bless you for all the effort your family invests to keep your very large group safe and sound. I was just going to mention how fast all your tortoises move when Dixie knocked you over! Put that lady on a football team! Everybody knows when it's feeding time which proves how smart they are. They must have excellent sense of smell.

[@themadhatter5526]

I love the part in the beginning where Dixie is there judging her owner for daring to go in her home and struggling to get out lol

[@wildcreatureswny]

Love the tortoises! Thanks for the updates on the Galops too! Great work as always you guys!🐢

[@rhombifer566]

I've had mine since 1993 30 years old. No regrets.

[@jennifurzoe1302]

Friend has four African Sulcattas,got them the size of half dollars and are huge by large now.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I can imagine. They grow fast!

[@jenskarlsson4744]

Great production great music choice !!As always 👍👍👍

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!

[@monicayoungblood8557]

They are ALL so awesome looking🥰👍❤️

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you 😊

[@lesleyredgrift6627]

Just love everyone of your videos. They keep me amused for hours and love the way you and Carey take care of all your incredible animals.❤

[@lesleyredgrift6627]

Casey.

[@aprilpotter3054]

This was my FAVORITE video yet. I am enthralled by your whole world. You are living the dream.❤

[@wilhelmtan5301]

By that thumbnail, it looks like chris lives in that tunnel

[@wilhelmtan5301]

On second thought on watching the video more, nevermind

[@GardenStateTortoise]

With how cool if felt down there, I certainly could!

[@isislopez8924]

Mickey looks like an old man already.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

She’s an ancient soul 😊

[@stevenpatricknorton458]

Until I move into a place with room for a tortoise to roam I watch people's videos. I will watch tonight. Thanks

[@carschmn]

Love the tortoise coming to judge the interloper.

[@omarwashington883]

😂😮😂😂😅🎉😅❤😮😅😅🎉q😂😅q❤❤😂🎉❤😂🎉😂😂😅😅😅😂q🎉😅

[@GardenStateTortoise]

She judged hard 🤣

[@alexanderkhitev]

Thank you for video!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you for watching!

[@sbaroke]

A fabulous tortoise vid breakt is always welcome 🤩 on a Sunday spent up to my neck in work yet again...

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!!

[@Deathnotx1223]

I love our tortoise '! Button and Shelly. They are so much entertainment! Two different personalities ❤

[@lindad1195]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the tortoises! I love seeing them!

[@tolumbustube5149]

It's really nice to see Sally and Dixie getting along

[@wyinrexgaming8115]

go garden state tourtoise

[@aboutdawntoday]

I love them so much.

[@sarina76667]

Aw what a handsome couple! I love how curious tortoises are! I remember when we first got Shelly, our Russian tortoise. Across the room from her enclosure was my cockatiel’s cage. Shelly was spending most of her time informing us that she was a free tortoise and was too big for her enclosure, but whenever Taji (my cockatiel) played with his bell Shelly would stop everything and just stare. Like, “what is that sound? I must have it!” Yes so now she has her own enrichment balls with bells in them that she can ignore until she thinks we’re not paying attention.

[@stephenweaver4445]

Depending upon the soil profile, is there a danger of the tunnel collapsing?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

I’m sure there is but luckily here the substrate is very “tortoise friendly”.

[@MustPassTruck]

Red foot look like it should be a lava type pokemon lol

[@keldaMouse]

you have the most lovely videos. the beauty of the tortoises and their environment is amazing. Blessings!

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thank you!

[@barbhelle5481]

They are all amazing.

[@michaelwebster8968]

Thank you for the great videos explations

[@Lauresaurus96]

I am really concerned about the number of sulcata tortoises being produced for the pet trade. There is no way there are that many homes for them. It makes me really sad.

[@Lauresaurus96]

What’s your point? I can be sad for the animals that will definitely suffer due to being placed in improper homes and becoming unwanted pets if I want to. I just think too many people are producing huge numbers of them to make cute KZbin videos. Garden state tortoise is not one of them, of course. Have you watched any of their videos about red eared sliders? Sulcatas are becoming the tortoise equivalent in my opinion.

[@lauralake7430]

Thanks for educating! Here in California, people buy Sulcatas, not really realizing how huge and destructive they are. Lovey, majestic, but not really meant to be pets you buy at the flea market!❤❤

[@debbeasher-k4764]

So fun. Love them.

[@YouLookism]

awwww baby galops!!! they are so cute 😊💚🐢

[@gargolario]

Wonderful video, as usual.

[@stevenf927]

It would be interesting to find out what are the future plans for housing the giant torts in the wintertime.

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

I would looove to live next door to this guy and get to enjoy the animals without the hassle of owning them lol. I would gladly pitch in though

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Haha thanks!

[@charliethetortoisebrzeczkowski]

Never get tired of watching this❤

[@zelda4lifeschramm]

I really love the radiated tortoises the babies and the full grown just so cute and their personality and how they stand up in the 🌧️ in the cutest

[@rd4660]

Thankfully my sulcata, which is about that size, is not a digger. He has a nice house and lots of shade for hot days at the beach here in SoCal.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Just keep a close eye, we had one not start digging until it was nearing 30 years of age. It’s a natural instinct that some start doing early while others don’t start until much later.

[@rd4660]

@@GardenStateTortoise ....dang. My boy is twenty years old. I would not be happy with a digger. :-) Once in a long while he'll forget to go back to his house when it gets dark, so he digs in. Lordy is he tough to get out of a hole that's only a foot deep or so. Lots of digging with a shovel while he's resisting. They're tough critters!!

[@jeanninelockridge5235]

Dixie comes up and says he bud, what you doing in my house? All these guys are awesome ❤

[@brandisnyder9765]

She's like, "Dude... why you in my burrow?" 😂

[@johnjohnson798]

Question, I've seen you say that they need outdoor enclosures but I also see people who have them on their farm and they don't seem to escape or run away, am I missing something or is it very rare that they will stay around there human? Thank you for your awesome videos!!

[@YouLookism]

mickeyyyy love her! 🙌🏻🤗🐢

[@rajanikumari3672]

I watched a video yesterday where Florida's Wildest built a new pen for a new to them Sulcata. They sunk the wire on the perimeter down about 3 or 4 feet. Now I'm thinking that may only be a mild deterrent to a determined tortoise.

[@luvmeepii]

Lmao Dixie was like "and this is for you, for sticking your TOES in my burrow.. SIR!"

[@tortoise_nerd3431]

Theyre so cute!!!! I want to sit with each and every one of them!!

[@Mythical_Dev]

You guys are on the southern shore of New Jersey? Haha I would love to say hi to you guys one day! I reside around there as well!

[@vicc504444]

My best friend has like 3 of them lol they’re cool and keep the backyard grass cut 😂

[@WhoopiCushion]

My 8 year old has always had a about 2 foot deep burrow I made for him. Covered by plywood and dirt. When I cut the pampas grass down I also used that as Insolation. Was just wondering if two feet is enough. He’s always been happy and healthy but I will upgrade according to size

[@Eleora1997Msia]

Tortoise: Hey human !!!, what are you doing at my den ??? my house.... my home sweet home. Are you spying my house. My tortoise private property... Wait !, i didn't know it fits in human as well... really shocked for the tortoise

[@LeighAnnGue]

Oooo come climb down in my guys den... We have no clue where it goes

[@marionboren5787]

What do you do with them when it snows?

[@BooneeXCdad]

Hoping you do an in depth clip on your plan for Mickey, especially winter plans. Thanks. Whatever you do may end up as my blueprint for doing the same.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Thanks. We have a 1,200 square foot building that houses our giants.

[@BooneeXCdad]

@@GardenStateTortoise Yep. Have watched every video you've ever made but your family of giants has gotten, uh...gianter than ever. 😊 Figured expansion or additions might be on the horizon.

[@amandajackson668]

I’m having a problem with my young redfoot not wanting greens even though I offer a variety of cleaned organic greens. They just ignore them and it’s been a problem for a while I don’t know what to do they will eat other things but not greens. Do you have any advice?

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

🐢😂must say that was a big hole sulcatas love to dig my sulcata tank dose the same ❤

[@Godisgreater123]

where did you order that green box?? I need to get it!

[@jackthehumanofficial]

what do you do during the jersey winters?

[@victorvilladev3962]

Where do you get that organic dandelion?

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

Where do you guys get your dandelion? I would have loved that for my bearded dragon and uromastyx lizard. I would grab it from the sides of roads and areas that weren't sprayed with pesticides and always triple wash it but it would have been great to have a big staple of it year round. They also loved the flowers. Both of them would go crazy for them. I also wish I would have tried buying bee pollen because I see that the lizards love it as well.

[@HousingisaHumanRight]

you can get them at grocery stores

[@sonora6702]

Hello new subscriber here do you have a video on a desert tortoise habitat Enclosure?.. looking to build an outdoor Enclosure for my desert tort

[@zelda4lifeschramm]

Tiptoe the star tortoise in california and his mom caitlin has him as a pet and had him since a baby.One thing I always asked her but never got an answer is why she doesnt provide places for tip toe to dig, isnt that what salcatas do?

[@keziah2088]

❤❤❤

[@simajayaredevil]

Are dandelions one of the better foods we can get for sulcatas or the testudos?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They’re ok as part of a well-rounded diet. Grass is best for Sulcatas.

[@dedelebon]

I love you ❤

[@GardenStateTortoise]

❤️🐢

[@alwaysyouramanda]

My mom’s has never dug that deep wow!!!

[@zelda4lifeschramm]

The red foot tortoises are the coolest

[@suvonhernandez843]

How do you let them burrow safely?

[@jerseyjeff2915]

How do you house the Sulcatas in winter, heated and lit indoor enclosures?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

We have a heated 1,200 square foot building with indoor runs and pens.

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

More on sulcatas 🐢🐢

[@e.m8805]

Do you worry about mixing species?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Only those that will cross-breed.

[@wfvqrvta]

is galapagos turtle illegal to keep?

[@gskate117]

Hey man, im from northern california. I really want to get involved with animal care. Whats the first step i should take?

[@vadymrybalko281]

Thank you for video material)

[@goblinzl1]

man these things can eat lol.

[@johnbrian4718]

How old is Dixie the sulcata?

[@llama7466]

I saved one of these African tortoises 1.5 yrs ago. I know nothing about them. I’ve fed him lots of greens and some fruits. I just recently found some Grassland Tortoise food pellets because I saw something about pyramiding? But I see your shell looks like mine so is that normal?

[@mikek573lights]

Do you have any tiny Eastern painted turtles I have a juvenile painted turtle and he doesn't have company

[@AvengerII]

Sulcatas look -- grumpier than the average tortoise. I don't know why it is. The Aldabras look the most "normal," and the Galapogos tortoises seem more bizarre and "alien" to put it mildly. I guess I'm more comfortable with the smaller tortoises and turtles.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Good way to put it but the Aldabra has the more atypical face when compared to most tortoises.

[@saltcityreptileranch]

Where so you keep your giant tortoises that cant overwinter outside?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

We have a 1,200 square foot building that’s heated.

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

I don’t understand I was told never to mix different species of tortoises 🐢

[@ElCorcinoahu]

They looks a little bit like a micheal Jackson 😁

[@jacekpaszkowski2000]

What do you do in the Winter?

[@lauralake7430]

They have a huge building

[@wyinrexgaming8115]

up

[@audreysark4061]

😂 I've got a female sulcata named PeaPod who keeps trying to burrow. She's very irritated that I keep filling them in.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

🤣👍🏻

[@nickmercado3556]

my name is nick have a tortoise and i need to speak with you about her is there any way i can get in contact with you please

[@roxanejohnsondelear9540]

Why are you allowed to keep Galapagos turtle tortoises? I went to the Galapagos and I thought they were only allowed in the Galapagos why are these animals that are native to other countries in the US? Are they here legally?

[@GardenStateTortoise]

They are here 100% legally, these were gifted to us from a known sanctuary and we’ve talked about this in several videos along with what it is we do here. The only way to preserve species from actual extinction is by doing this. That’s not opinion, it’s factual.

[@gg-gn3re]

remote control car or even quadricopter to see how deep it is if she starts making turns

[@cynthiaraper868]

Wich show there no climate change the grown still is staying cool😊

[@carlosrodgers2474]

Poor dude got tackled by a hungry tortoise.

[@GardenStateTortoise]

Haha 😂

[@bernicelargo7675]

How can u tell if it's a male or female

[@erikarsov4365]

Gamera

[@frankgallegos8048]

Never go down a tortoise hole ever!! Think about it they can kill you you cannot push a tortoise

[@beanman9491]

My dog ate my tortoise Garry my hart hurt still

[@beanman9491]

I now man don't fill so bad

[@beanman9491]

Ok thank u

[@melissatrader8528]

I can't seem to pay attention to anything you're saying I just keep staring at that zit please pop it😅

[@GardenStateTortoise]

That’s not a zit, that’s a mole, have had it my whole life. 😉

[@lauralake7430]

Rude!

[@left.inland6402]

Title didn't really fit the video